Isurumuniya Temple

Isurumuniya Temple is famous for its carvings

According to history, Isurumuniya Temple has been built by King Devanam Piyatissa between 250 – 210 BC. This temple was built for the 500 monks who entered Buddhism, following Arahath Mahinda Thero. King Devanam Piyatissa built The tank nearby also(Tissa Wewa). After that, several kings made additions to this temple and King Maha Kashyapa renovated and developed this place very much.

With the passage of time, due to shifting the kingdoms, the Anuradhapura area became abandoned. A lot of temples (including Isurumuniya Temple) and palaces got covered with forest. This place was re-discovered in the middle part of the 19th century. Today it has become a major attraction among both local and foreign travellers.

Archaeological ruins of Isurumuniya Temple

The Man and the Horse Head

Etched into the rock face above the pond is a man seated next to a horse. The man sits in ‘Maharàjaleelasana’ (pose of the Great King) posture. His left arm stretches vertically down and the hand is place palm downwards on the base. His right arm is resting on his right leg bent at the knee. The abstracted figure exudes a powerful countenance. When you observe the upper body in detail, there appears to be a ‘Poona Noola’ ( a sacred thread )around his neck. Ancient ascetic people used to wear this thread.

Many of the sculptures in Isurumuniya temple are not, in fact, religious in nature. The renowned carvings reflect non-Buddhist secular themes and symbols. The sculptural depictions are debatable.

For example, Parjanyi of Isurumuniya, the engraving of the horse and man has been a subject of controversy among scholars and historians. Ananda Kumaraswamy considered the sculpture to be an illustration of Kapila Muni of Indian Epic.

Former Archaeological Commissioner Professor Senarat Paranavitana inferred that the man was Parjanya or Varuna – the Rain God and the horse were Agni (fire.) From what we gather from Vedic literature, Parjanya represents water and it’s in water that Agni was believed to originate. According to Paranavitana’s interpretation, the seated figure of Parajanya and his tethered horse are harbingers of monsoon rains.

The Elephant Pond

The first thing you will come across once you enter Isurumuniya Temple is the Elephant Pond. The most amazing thing about the pond is the carvings of elephants on the rock. It looks like this elephant is playing with the water in the pond. There are more elephants carved in the very rock. You can see a set of elephants in the right-hand side corner.

Isurumuni Lovers

The sculpture known as the “Isurumuniya Lovers” is a Gupta-style carving of the 6th Century. It shows a woman seated on a man’s lap, lifting a finger in what some people interpret as a manifestation of her coyness. A certain mystery surrounds the carving as no record exists of exactly whom the two images portray. Locals believe the couple depicted in the carving are Prince Saliya and Asokamala. Another legend has it that it is the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati depicted in the famous carving.

It is possible that the figures represent Prince Saliya (son of King Dutugemunu) and Asokamala, the maiden of the low caste he loved. According to historical reports he eventually gave up the throne for her.

Another legend has it that it is Shiva and Parvati depicted in the famous carving.

King’s Family Carving

The Royal Family carving is one of the stone carvings in Isurumuniya. Its tradition is Gupta Kala. The Royal Family carving is a group carving that represents five human figures on a granite plate. The human figure in the centre of the carving has a tall crown on his head and puna noola around his chest. At his left are another two human figures. They are fanning him with a “Wijinipath”. Some believe he is king Duttugamunu.